Banking

Lord Barnett: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will urge the European Commission to review current accounting rules, with particular reference to the value of derivatives.

Baroness Vadera: The International Accounting Standards Board and the European Commission have recently acted to amend the current accounting rules with respect to financial instruments and a further review of the rules is already under way in conjunction with other international bodies.

Belfast Agreement

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 11 November (WA 123—24) concerning the interpretation of words as they apply to Northern Ireland, what is meant by "commonly understood terms" in relation to identity, ethos and aspirations; and, in the case of identity, what are the identities they consider to be important with regard to the Belfast agreement.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: In saying that these were "commonly understood terms", I intended to explain that the Government believed the terms to be in general usage in the English language and that they did not have any specific or unique meaning placed on them beyond this.
	In the context of the constitutional issues chapter of the Belfast agreement, the references to "identity" refer, in particular, to those who choose to identify themselves as British, Irish or both.

Bloody Sunday: Saville Inquiry

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 3 November (WA 12) concerning a statement about the cost of the Saville inquiry and the issuing of an apology, what factors influenced the decision about an apology in that case; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 3 November (WA 12) concerning a statement about the cost of the Saville inquiry and the issuing of an apology, why it took two years for an apology to be made; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 3 November (WA 12) concerning a statement about the cost of the Saville inquiry and the issuing of an apology, who took the decision to offer an apology; and when; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 3 November (WA 12) concerning a statement about the cost of the Saville inquiry and the issuing of an apology, who was consulted about the decision to make an apology; and why; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 3 November (WA 12) concerning a statement about the cost of the Saville inquiry and the issuing of an apology, whether Ms Jowell was consulted about the decision to issue an apology; if so, what was her view; and, if not, why.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: As the noble Lord is aware, the Government recognised that the figure quoted by Ms Jowell for the cost of the Bloody Sunday inquiry on 2 July 2006 was inaccurate. This error was rectified when Parliament was informed of the correct figures on 20 July 2006. No apology was sought, or made, at the time when the error was rectified. The noble Lord raised the issue of an apology in May 2008 (Written Answer by Lord Rooker, 22 May 2008, Official Report, col. WA 207) and in subsequent Questions. Ministers considered that it was appropriate to apologise to the noble Lord for any confusion caused by the error (Written Answer by Lord Rooker, 29 September 2008, Official Report, col. WA 306). Ms Jowell was consulted, because she had made the statement in question, and she was content that the Government should apologise to the noble Lord for any confusion caused.

Bloody Sunday: Saville Inquiry

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 3 November (WA 12) concerning a statement about the cost of the Saville inquiry and the issuing of an apology, what is meant by "appropriate" in the Answer.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The word "appropriate" was intended to have its commonly understood meaning when used as an adjective—that is, "suitable, proper".

Bloody Sunday: Saville Inquiry

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 3 November (WA 12) concerning a statement about the cost of the Saville inquiry and the issuing of an apology, whether they will review their policy on the issuing of apologies.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: There are no plans to review our policy on the issuing of apologies.

Bloody Sunday: Saville Inquiry

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 3 November (WA 12) concerning a statement about the cost of the Saville inquiry and the issuing of an apology, whether they have considered issuing an apology for any other statements regarding the Saville inquiry since 1997.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: As far as I am aware, similar circumstances have not arisen in relation to other statements made about the Bloody Sunday inquiry.

Citizens Advice Bureaux

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will allocate funding to citizens advice bureaux to enable them in certain locations to have Polish-speaking advisers.

Baroness Vadera: Central government do not provide core funding for individual citizens advice bureaux. Each bureau is a separate registered charity operating independently, providing a service geared towards the needs of local people, and is therefore funded mainly by local authorities, with additional funding, often on a project basis, from charitable trusts, the Legal Services Commission (LSC), the Financial Inclusion Fund etc.
	It is, therefore, for local authorities to determine the structure and level of core funding they provide to individual bureaux that will best meet the needs of their local communities. While there may be specific requirements in certain locations for Polish-speaking advisers, it is for local authorities and their CABs to work together to determine need and some bureaux have engaged Polish-speaking volunteers. Central government do provide some further assistance. LSC contracts with bureaux include provision for interpreters, and the face-to-face debt programme, which the department funds, provides a language line translation service.

Data Monitoring: Equality Outcomes

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	To what extent equality outcomes require accurate monitoring data to be managed and accounted for.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The Government consider accurate monitoring data important to track progress towards equality outcomes.

Department for Communities and Local Government: Printing Costs

Baroness Warsi: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much the Department for Communities and Local Government has spent in the last year for which figures are available on hard copy printing of documents for external audiences.

Baroness Andrews: The final spend through our centralised print buying operation for hard copy printing in 2007-08 was £1,426,935.

Economy: Vulnerable People

Baroness Uddin: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to address the proposal from the UK Autism Foundation for greater support for the vulnerable during the current economic situation.

Lord Myners: The Government have put in place a series of reforms to tackle poverty and disadvantage faced by vulnerable groups. The Government's most recent announcements are set out below.
	On 13 May 2008, the Chancellor announced further support for low- and middle-income families for 2008-09. For the current tax year, income tax personal allowances will be increased by £600 for all taxpayers under 65. Around 22 million basic rate taxpayers will benefit from this change.
	This year, adults aged 60 and over will benefit from an additional payment of £50, and those aged over 80 from an additional payment of £100 to be paid alongside the winter fuel payment. In addition, extra help for the vulnerable this winter will be provided by an increase in cold weather payments, which will triple from £8.50 to £25 for this winter.
	On 17 July 2008, the Chancellor announced a postponement of the 2p per litre increase in fuel duty that was planned to take place on 1 October 2008 to support families and businesses in the face of sharp rises in world oil prices. This means that main road fuel duty rates will remain at 50.35p per litre after 1 October this year. The duty is 17 per cent lower in real terms than in 1999.
	On 11 September, the Government announced a new £1 billion package of energy efficiency measures, including at least 50 per cent off a range of energy saving measures for all households, with 11 million of the most vulnerable households qualifying for these free of charge.
	On 2 September, the Government announced reforms to the support for mortgage interest (SMI) system—SMI is paid to people on income support, pension credit and income-based jobseeker's allowance to help to meet the interest payments on their mortgage—to more accurately reflect the value of people's property and reduce the waiting time before help from SMI is available. The Government will keep this system of support under review.
	Disabled people have access to a range of benefits in recognition of their extra support needs. The employment and support allowance offers financial help and personal support to disabled people who are out of work, and disability living allowance provides a contribution towards the extra costs arising from disability. The disability premium in income-related benefits is also paid in recognition that the least well-off disabled people need additional help.

Equality

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will review the present regime for equality enforcement; and whether they will introduce new enforcement arrangements in the forthcoming Equality Bill.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: A full analysis of the way discrimination law is enforced in the courts and tribunals was undertaken as part of the discrimination law review. As a result, we are making a number of changes in the forthcoming Equality Bill, including:
	allowing employment tribunals to make wider recommendations in discrimination cases, which will benefit the wider workforce and help to prevent similar types of discrimination occurring in the future;transferring disability discrimination school education cases in Scotland (including education cases relating to admissions and exclusions) to the Additional Support Needs Tribunals for Scotland, and;making provision for the use of expert assessors to advise judges in court cases involving discrimination across all the protected grounds.
	In addition, if practical, we want to allow discrimination claims to be brought on multiple grounds. This is a complex area and we are exploring it further, including whether the legislation could be made to work in practice and what the costs and benefits would be.
	The new single public sector equality duty will, like the current race, disability and gender equality duties, be enforced by the Commission for Equality and Human Rights or by judicial review.
	We recognise that strong and effective enforcement is necessary to make a reality of legal rights. The changes that we are making in the Equality Bill will help us to tackle discriminatory policies and practices in a more systematic way.

Ethnic Monitoring: Data

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they promote the use of equality impact assessments in measuring and managing equality performance; and what role ethnic monitoring data play in contributions to accurate information gathering.

Baroness Andrews: The Government consider that equality impact assessments are essential if policies, programmes and services are to be designed and delivered in ways that promote equality. The Government consider that ethnic monitoring can be a valuable tool in helping to assess race equality outcomes.

EU: Shipping

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 23 October (WA 120—21), what consultation there has been with the British shipping industry about the new arrangements; and what was their response.

Lord Adonis: The Department for Transport maintains close links with the maritime industry and regularly consults with industry representatives and other stakeholders during European negotiations to ensure that the most appropriate outcome is achieved.
	A formal consultation process, including an assessment of the costs and benefits of the proposals, will be carried out in accordance with the Cabinet Office's code of practice on consultation when the directives are transposed into UK legislation.

EU: Shipping

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 23 October (WA 120—21), where the new monitoring organisation will be based.

Lord Adonis: SafeSeaNet is the information system that has been developed in order to give effect to the information reception, handling and interchange requirements of the EC vessel traffic monitoring directive (directive 2002/59/EC). The EC vessel traffic monitoring amending directive is designed to amend directive 2002/59/EC.
	SafeSeaNet is managed by the European Maritime Safety Agency, which is based in Lisbon. Individual member states feed information into SafeSeaNet in order to comply with various directives. In the UK, information is forwarded to SafeSeaNet via the consolidated European reporting system (CERS).

EU: Shipping

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 23 October (WA 120—21), whether any special arrangements will be made for Commonwealth and United States shipping.

Lord Adonis: No. The proposed directive amending directive 2002/59/EC establishing a Community vessel traffic monitoring system and the proposed directive establishing the fundamental principles governing the investigation of accidents in the maritime transport sector apply to all ships in waters under the jurisdiction of member states regardless of their country of registration.
	The provisions for port state control contained in the proposed recast directive introduce a more risk-based system of inspection, which among other factors takes account of the ship's owner and country of registration when determining whether the ship should be inspected.

EU: Shipping

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 23 October (WA 120—21), what arrangements will be made for Parliament to debate and approve the proposed revised arrangements.

Lord Adonis: Parliament considers proposals for Council legislation through Select Committees in both Houses: the Commons European Scrutiny Committee and the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Union.
	Scrutiny is complete when the document under scrutiny has been cleared in both Houses. The purpose of scrutiny is to determine which documents raise issues of legal and/or political importance to the UK and should be considered further by the committees or debated by Parliament before scrutiny clearance.
	When the Government give effect to the directives, the implementing regulations will be laid in Parliament, where they will be subject to further scrutiny.

EU: Taxation

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the present status of the proposal for a direct European Union tax, put forward by Commissioner Schreyer in 2002.

Lord Myners: There is no proposal to introduce an EU tax. The Government believe that taxation is a matter for member states to determine at a national level.

Housing: Black and Ethnic Minority Housing Associations

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will investigate the Housing Corporation's treatment of the black and minority ethnic-led Presentation Housing Association, or ask the Equality and Human Rights Commission to do so.

Baroness Andrews: The Government have no plans to investigate the actions of the Housing Corporation in relation to Presentation Housing Association, which it has placed under regulatory supervision.
	If it appears to the Housing Corporation that there may have been misconduct or mismanagement, the corporation may direct an inquiry into the affairs of a registered social landlord (RSL). Where, as a result of that inquiry, the corporation is satisfied that there has been misconduct or mismanagement, or that the management of the RSL's land would be improved if it were transferred, the corporation may direct such a transfer. The consent of the Secretary of State, under paragraph 27 of Schedule 1 to the Housing Act 1996, is required for such a direction to transfer. It would not therefore be appropriate for the Government to comment on any individual case, as doing so might be held to pre-empt any decision that the Secretary of State may subsequently be required to take.
	The Equality and Human Rights Commission can conduct formal inquiries where it appears to the commission that there are persistent inequalities, human rights or good relations issues that need highlighting. It can also conduct formal investigations where there is evidence of unlawful discrimination.
	Schedule 1 to the Equality Act 2006 states that the Secretary of State shall have regard to the desirability of ensuring that the Equality and Human Rights Commission is under as few constraints as reasonably possible in determining (a) its activities; (b) its timetables; and (c) its priorities. It is therefore up to the commission to decide whether to take action in any particular case.

India: Orissa

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Tunnicliffe on 30 October (WA 120) regarding the western Orissa rural livelihoods project, what were the income levels in the target communities (a) in 2000, and (b) at the most recent date for which figures are available.

Lord Tunnicliffe: In the areas covered by the western Orissa rural livelihoods project, the average household income in the financial year 2000-01 was Rs 14,803 per year (about £185 at current exchange rates). The average household income rose to Rs 24,811 per year (£310 at current exchange rates) in the financial year 2006-07. This represents an increase of about 67 per cent over a period of six years.

Internet: BT and Phorm

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Phorm/121 Media technology tested by BT creates literal copies and adaptations of copyright-protected works in transmission without a licence for the purposes of Sections 107 and 110 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Lord Carter of Barnes: The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (as amended) sets out a number of exclusive rights for copyright owners. These rights include the right to prevent the unauthorised copying of all or a substantial part of a protected work (although copying without permission is allowed in some circumstances, which are set out in the legislation). In some circumstances an infringement of these rights can result in criminal liability under Sections 107 and 110 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (as amended) as well as civil liability.
	Whether there has been any infringement of the copyright will depend on the facts of that particular case and is a matter for the courts to determine, not the Government. Copyright owners and enforcement agencies can seek to take action if they consider that an infringement has occurred.

Iraq

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assistance they are giving to the Kurdish Regional Government in Iraq to assist the development of civil society and protection of minorities.

Lord Tunnicliffe: The Department for International Development (DfID) does not provide assistance directly to the Kurdish Regional Government in Iraq. DfID's assistance to the development of civil society and the protection of minorities in Kurdistan is delivered through the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
	Through its nationwide IMPACT programme in Kurdistan, UNICEF is training 75 programme managers and health workers from hard-to-reach districts, distributing midwifery and obstetrical kits to areas that contain many internally displaced people (IDPs) and conducting technical assessments of the impact on wells of the drought currently affecting northern Iraq. WFP is distributing food to IDPs across Kurdistan as part of its nationwide food distribution programme.
	The ICRC and UNHCR have both provided assistance, in the form of blankets, heaters, jerry cans, cooking tools, plastic sheeting and food to people who are living in tent camps, having returned to Kurdistan from being refugees in neighbouring countries. IOM has provided them with emergency fuel. In the wake of the flash flood that occurred in Choman district in September, IOM also provided to 100 IDPs assistance, which included kerosene heaters, stoves, water tanks and generators.

Northern Ireland Parades Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What information has been provided to government auditors by the Northern Ireland Office concerning the possible double payment of income tax by members of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission; and what response there has been from the auditors.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: In accordance with the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 as amended by the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 (Accounts and Audit) Order 1998, the Comptroller and Auditor-General examines, certifies and reports on the Parades Commission's financial statements. While I can confirm that the Northern Ireland Office has not double-paid Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) any employer-based taxes, the commissioners' personal liability for income tax and national insurance is a matter for the individuals and HMRC. HMRC will not disclose information to a third party concerning an individual's tax position.

Northern Ireland Parades Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Tunnicliffe on 21 July (WA 220), why it would not be appropriate to provide the names of monitors for the Northern Ireland Parades Commission.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: Due to the sensitive nature of their work and the fact that it is performed on a voluntary basis, it would not be appropriate to name individual monitors.

Northern Ireland Parades Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the qualifications required of monitors for the Northern Ireland Parades Commission; who set those requirements; and when.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: This is an operational matter of the Parades Commission of Northern Ireland, which operates independently of government.
	In accordance with the Answer provided on 5 November (Official Report, col. WA 70), I would encourage the noble Lord to write to the chairman of the Parades Commission.

Northern Ireland Parades Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Crawley on 22 July (WA 276) concerning the Northern Ireland Parades Commission, why the information was not provided instead of placing reports in the House of Lords Library; and what is their practice on when to place documents in the Library.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The information was not provided because it was already available in the public domain. Unless there is a statutory requirement to place a document in the Library, consideration is given on a case-by-case basis.

Palestine: Refugees

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assistance they are giving, through non-governmental organisations and the United Nations, to Palestinian refugees from 1948 living in Bourj al-Barajneh and other camps in Lebanon; and what political and diplomatic efforts are being made to improve the rights and prospects of those refugees.

Lord Tunnicliffe: The UK Government support Palestinian refugees in the Lebanon through diplomatic engagement and through supporting non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the United Nations. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is funding over £3 million-worth of projects over the next three years, including with NGOs. These projects focus on support for Palestinians in the Lebanon and cover a range of issues, including education and vocational training.
	The Department for International Development (DfID) is providing £100 million over five years from 2007 to support the operations of United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) in the region. UNRWA spends approximately 20 per cent of its budget in the Lebanon. In this financial year (2008-09), DfID has provided £19 million to UNRWA, of which £3.8 million is estimated to be for Palestinian refugees in the Lebanon.
	The UK Government engage with the Lebanese Government through the British embassy in Beirut. The embassy has regular discussions with the Lebanese Palestinian Dialogue Committee, in the Prime Minister's Office, which is responsible for co-ordinating relief efforts, and with UNRWA. The Foreign Secretary raised the issue of Palestinians during his visit to the Lebanon in June 2008. Ministers have also raised the issue of camps with their Lebanese counterparts.

Planning

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Andrews on 15 October (WA 53—55), how long undetermined applications may remain with the relevant deciding authorities before they are deemed invalid.

Baroness Andrews: If an applicant fails to provide the necessary environmental information required by the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Mineral Permissions and Amendment) (England) Regulations 2008 within the required time period, planning permission is automatically suspended until such time as all the required information is provided. Further working of the mineral operations will then be a breach of planning control. Should the environmental information continue not to be provided, following suspension of two years the mineral planning authority will be under a duty to make a prohibition order ceasing those parts of the planning permission covered by the failure to provide that information.
	Where all the required environment information has been provided and a mineral planning authority fails to determine the relevant application within 16 weeks of receipt of that information, the applicant will have a right of appeal to the Secretary of State on the basis of non-determination.

Police: Northern Ireland

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether Semtex explosive used in a recent attack on police officers in County Fermanagh came directly or indirectly from Provisional IRA stock.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: This is an operational intelligence matter and it is the long-standing practice of successive Governments not to comment on such matters.

Police: Northern Ireland

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many times Army technical officers have been called out to assist the Police Service of Northern Ireland since November 2006.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: I am informed that, since November 2006, Army technical officers were called to assist the PSNI on 571 occasions.

Race Relations

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the effect of race equality councils on the promotion of good race relations and community cohesion in their local areas.

Baroness Andrews: Race equality councils are independent charitable bodies and are not accountable to government. The Government have not made any formal assessment of the impact of race equality councils on their local areas.

Racism

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have received advice from the Equality and Human Rights Commission about positive action to overcome any institutional racism in the United Kingdom's political bodies and among poor white communities; and, if so, what action is proposed.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: We have received no formal advice from the Equality and Human Rights Commission regarding positive action. Both in its response to the government Green Paper A Framework for Fairness on our plans to introduce a new Equality Bill and in the course of regular meetings with officials, the commission has identified its position with regard to positive action. However, that position does not include any specific reference to institutional racism, either as a separate entity or as it may relate to political bodies or poor white communities.
	The Government have already announced their intention to use the forthcoming Equality Bill to broaden the scope of voluntary positive action measures that can be taken to the full extent allowed by European law. Those positive action measures will be open to a wide range of bodies, such as political parties, service providers, employers and public authorities, to use on a voluntary basis.

Railways: Bonuses

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the impact on the image of the rail industry of bonuses awarded to Network Rail executives.

Lord Adonis: No assessment has been made. Decisions on bonuses are a matter for Network Rail's independent remuneration committee. Bonuses are determined against key performance indicator targets set by the independent Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) in accordance with condition 28 of Network Rail's network licence.
	As part of the ORR's "Periodic Review 2008" final determinations, published on 30 October, the ORR announced that it would conclude in December its analysis of the results of its industry consultation on proposed changes to Network Rail's network licence to strengthen the company's accountability. The ORR will then undertake the required statutory consultation to enable the implementation of the changes from 1 April 2009.
	The ORR proposes in future to require Network Rail's remuneration committee to be more transparent in its executive bonus decision-making process and to explain how it has taken into account input from third parties such as the ORR.

Railways: Chiltern Franchise

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 10 November (WA 106), how many interventions they have made in the Chiltern railway franchise in 2008.

Lord Adonis: There has been no change to the position regarding the recording of interventions as set out in my Answer of 10 November.

Sinn Fein

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in respect of their duties in the Northern Ireland Assembly, any Sinn Fein Members or Ministers receive grants or allowances, directly or indirectly, from the Northern Ireland Office.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: Sinn Fein Members or Ministers do not receive any such grants or allowances, directly or indirectly, from the Northern Ireland Office.

St Andrews Agreement

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 5 November (WA 75—76) concerning the St Andrews agreement, whether the date suggested for the devolution of criminal justice and policing to the Northern Ireland Executive was an aspiration or an undertaking.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: There is nothing further I can add to the Answer given on 29 October (Official Report, col. WA 177).

Taxation: Residential Property

Lord Campbell-Savours: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many unincorporated taxpayers declared aggregated details of rental income and associated expenses for residential property on self-assessment tax returns in the last year for which figures are available; and
	How many taxpayers declared details of rental income on residential property in the last year for which figures are available; and
	What estimate they have made of the loss of income to Her Majesty's Treasury from non-declaration of rental income from residential property within the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available.

Lord Myners: This information is not available, as declarations of rental income on tax returns are not split between residential and other types of property; additionally, tax gap estimates are not available specifically relating to residential property.

Taxation: Residential Property

Lord Campbell-Savours: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the registration of residential housing tenancies by local authorities will provide information to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs on rental income liability.

Lord Myners: HMRC uses information from a variety of sources to assess tax liability. HMRC would be eligible to obtain the local authority data under its information powers set out in Section 18A(2) of the Tax Management Act 1970.